Wings GM Ken Holland told the paper Cleary was “welcome” at camp after spending the summer mulling over options — including overtures from other clubs.

Here’s more, from the Free Press:

The Wings offered him a deal before free agency began in July, but Cleary ended up hitting the market and was pursued by the likes of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who even had their captain, Sidney Crosby, call as a pitchman, as well as Anaheim and Philadelphia.

Cleary ultimately decided he wants to stay in Detroit, and the Wings do want him back.

The holdup, of course, is Detroit’s logjam at forward, with 16 skaters under contract and plans to only carry 14 on the active roster (this also doesn’t count Damien Brunner, the 27-year-old Swiss forward that had 26 points in 44 games last year and is also still without a deal.)

A year and a half ago Babcock had to use a protractor just to balance the lines with all the injuries and gaps the Wings had at forward. Now we are overstocked up front. As a fan I’d hate to see Cleary go, he’s been around for a good chunk of time, and brings a lot of grit and playoff experience to the team, but at the same time, he should have never hesitated to re-sign. Last I heard Alfie was sporting #11 at practice. Time well tell.